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Sex in Seattle #2
The Enlightenment of Daniel
Sex in Book Two
Business tycoon Daniel Derenzo lives for his work until his dying father reminds him life is short. When Daniel starts to reevaluate his world he experiences a startling revelation—he’s attracted to his business partner and best friend, Nick, even though Daniel always believed himself to be straight. In typical type-A fashion, Daniel dissects his newfound desires with the help of the experts at the Expanded Horizons sex clinic. He goes after Nick with the fierce determination that’s won him many a business deal.
Nick Ross was in love with Daniel years ago, when they were roommates in college. But Daniel was straight and Nick patched his broken heart by marrying Marcia. Two kids and fourteen years later, they go through the motions of their marriage like ships passing in the night. But Nick’s kids mean the world to him, and he’s afraid he’ll never get joint custody if they divorced. If he can trust his heart to an awakening Daniel, they all might find their way to a happily ever after.
Business tycoon Daniel Derenzo lives for his work until his dying father reminds him life is short. When Daniel starts to reevaluate his world he experiences a startling revelation—he’s attracted to his business partner and best friend, Nick, even though Daniel always believed himself to be straight. In typical type-A fashion, Daniel dissects his newfound desires with the help of the experts at the Expanded Horizons sex clinic. He goes after Nick with the fierce determination that’s won him many a business deal.
Nick Ross was in love with Daniel years ago, when they were roommates in college. But Daniel was straight and Nick patched his broken heart by marrying Marcia. Two kids and fourteen years later, they go through the motions of their marriage like ships passing in the night. But Nick’s kids mean the world to him, and he’s afraid he’ll never get joint custody if they divorced. If he can trust his heart to an awakening Daniel, they all might find their way to a happily ever after.
212 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 18, 2013
66 people are currently reading
843 people want to read
About the author
Eli Easton
89 books2,796 followersHaving been, at various times and under different names, a minister’s daughter, a computer programmer, the author of paranormal mysteries, a game designer, an organic farmer, an avid hiker, and a profound sleeper, Eli is happily embarking on yet another incarnation as a m/m romance author.
As an addicted reader of such, she is tinkled pink when an author manages to combine literary merit, vast stores of humor, melting hotness and eye-dabbing sweetness into one story. She promises to strive to achieve most of that most of the time. She currently lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her husband, three bulldogs, three cows and six chickens. All of them (except for the husband) are female, hence explaining the naked men that have taken up residence in her latest fiction writing.
Her website in www.elieaston.com
You can email her at eli@elieaston.com
COMING SOON:
See what's in the pipeline here: http://elieaston.com/work-in-progress/
As an addicted reader of such, she is tinkled pink when an author manages to combine literary merit, vast stores of humor, melting hotness and eye-dabbing sweetness into one story. She promises to strive to achieve most of that most of the time. She currently lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her husband, three bulldogs, three cows and six chickens. All of them (except for the husband) are female, hence explaining the naked men that have taken up residence in her latest fiction writing.
Her website in www.elieaston.com
You can email her at eli@elieaston.com
COMING SOON:
See what's in the pipeline here: http://elieaston.com/work-in-progress/
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July 12, 2020
The Enlightenment of Daniel is book two in the Sex in Seattle series by Eli Easton. This book!!! I wish I could give it more stars than five stars! I loved these two so, so much!!! This is a M/M, gay awakening, friends to lovers romance.
Daniel Derenzo is thirty four years old and co-owns DRE, Derenzo & Ross Enterprises, with his best friend Nick. They buy up businesses in trouble, restructure them, and then resell them. He has made millions. His work is his life. Daniel is straight. He tried marriage but it didn’t work out. He is married to his job. But when Daniel’s father, who doesn’t have much time left to live, gives him advice, tells him he needs to re-evaluate his life, to “live” his life, Daniel does just that. And when he is sitting across from his best friend, the man he’s known since college, who he shares a business with, the heavens open up and the light shines down, and Daniel has a moment!
Nick Ross is bi-sexual. He was in love with Daniel back in college. But he knew it was something that could never come to be. So when Daniel got married, Nick met someone and also got married. They had two beautiful kids together, Jenny, now thirteen, and his son, Sylvan, who is eight. But he and his wife haven’t had a relationship for years. They barely speak. Nick loves his kids and only stays for them. He can’t risk losing them. They are the only light in his otherwise dismal world.
I loved Daniel so much. He was one determined man. Once he had his epiphany, he didn’t even hesitate. He came up with a plan and all systems were green for go! I loved watching he and his dad connect after all the years they lost. And I loved watching him fall in love, not only with Nick, but with his kids. It was like his heart just got bigger.
But no matter how he feels, Nick’s wife will never let him go, no matter how miserable they are.
This book really was unexpected. My love for Daniel was instant. I loved Nick too and felt terrible for the life he had to endure. I kind of wished he would stand up to his wife more but understand why he wouldn’t. This was fun and sweet and sexy and just wonderful. Book three in the series is The Mating of Michael. We’ve met Michael LaMont a couple of times in these first two books. He is a sex surrogate for Expanded Horizons. He spends all of his time helping others. Now maybe its his turn for a happy ending!
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
Daniel Derenzo is thirty four years old and co-owns DRE, Derenzo & Ross Enterprises, with his best friend Nick. They buy up businesses in trouble, restructure them, and then resell them. He has made millions. His work is his life. Daniel is straight. He tried marriage but it didn’t work out. He is married to his job. But when Daniel’s father, who doesn’t have much time left to live, gives him advice, tells him he needs to re-evaluate his life, to “live” his life, Daniel does just that. And when he is sitting across from his best friend, the man he’s known since college, who he shares a business with, the heavens open up and the light shines down, and Daniel has a moment!
Nick Ross is bi-sexual. He was in love with Daniel back in college. But he knew it was something that could never come to be. So when Daniel got married, Nick met someone and also got married. They had two beautiful kids together, Jenny, now thirteen, and his son, Sylvan, who is eight. But he and his wife haven’t had a relationship for years. They barely speak. Nick loves his kids and only stays for them. He can’t risk losing them. They are the only light in his otherwise dismal world.
I loved Daniel so much. He was one determined man. Once he had his epiphany, he didn’t even hesitate. He came up with a plan and all systems were green for go! I loved watching he and his dad connect after all the years they lost. And I loved watching him fall in love, not only with Nick, but with his kids. It was like his heart just got bigger.
But no matter how he feels, Nick’s wife will never let him go, no matter how miserable they are.
This book really was unexpected. My love for Daniel was instant. I loved Nick too and felt terrible for the life he had to endure. I kind of wished he would stand up to his wife more but understand why he wouldn’t. This was fun and sweet and sexy and just wonderful. Book three in the series is The Mating of Michael. We’ve met Michael LaMont a couple of times in these first two books. He is a sex surrogate for Expanded Horizons. He spends all of his time helping others. Now maybe its his turn for a happy ending!
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
August 23, 2014
3.5 stars
Oh, Marcia, Marcia, Marcia, you crazy psychotic bitch. I don't care that you wear gauzy dresses and drive a Harley (bought on Nick's multi-million dollar dime, obviously) at the end; I still hate you so.
And, Nick, please get a spine and grow a pair of balls while you're at it. There's not fighting and then there's being a pathetic push-over.
Loved seeing Dr. Jack and Tony again, albeit briefly. I liked Daniel too and Daniel's dad, although Daniel's sudden Gay Epiphany was the stuff of fairies and stardust. I just don't think it works that way. Nick's conversion was more believable since he was always bi, always a bit in love with Daniel, and definitely not in love with Marcia.
I wanted fewer kid scenes. Look, I'm a mom. I read to ESCAPE my children. And while I admire Nick's dedication to fatherhood, an 8-year-old and 13-year-old should not dictate your life's choices to that degree. Yeah, it all worked out, but, seriously, often doing right by your kids means doing right by yourself. And the kids got in the way of Nick and Daniel. There were very few scenes of them just alone together.
I wanted more steam and felt a little cheated on that front, but the HEA was blazing, cheesy but sweet. (Could have done without Marcia though)
Oh, Marcia, Marcia, Marcia, you crazy psychotic bitch. I don't care that you wear gauzy dresses and drive a Harley (bought on Nick's multi-million dollar dime, obviously) at the end; I still hate you so.
And, Nick, please get a spine and grow a pair of balls while you're at it. There's not fighting and then there's being a pathetic push-over.
Loved seeing Dr. Jack and Tony again, albeit briefly. I liked Daniel too and Daniel's dad, although Daniel's sudden Gay Epiphany was the stuff of fairies and stardust. I just don't think it works that way. Nick's conversion was more believable since he was always bi, always a bit in love with Daniel, and definitely not in love with Marcia.
I wanted fewer kid scenes. Look, I'm a mom. I read to ESCAPE my children. And while I admire Nick's dedication to fatherhood, an 8-year-old and 13-year-old should not dictate your life's choices to that degree. Yeah, it all worked out, but, seriously, often doing right by your kids means doing right by yourself. And the kids got in the way of Nick and Daniel. There were very few scenes of them just alone together.
I wanted more steam and felt a little cheated on that front, but the HEA was blazing, cheesy but sweet. (Could have done without Marcia though)
March 7, 2020
Forewarning….I’m a bit all over the place on this one. I quickly dove into Daniel’s book after finishing Tony and Jack’s. I was excited for more of this sexy Seattle series. Annnd, I have a thing about reading in proper order and couldn’t wait to get to Michael’s book even if it meant withstanding the urge to leapfrog this one. Eli took me on a roller coaster of emotions but in the end, I was grateful for the ride. Cheating is one of the few things on my ‘no go‘ list. I ignored the warnings and forged ahead anyway, with my foot heavy on the gas. *whispers* Can I tell you a secret? I didn’t really care about this particular instance of infidelity. It really didn’t even feel like cheating to me. *shrug* I think it’s because I felt as if Nick was trapped in a relationship prison. Technically it was a marriage but it was a prison all the same. It wasn’t real. They were miserable. Was it deceit when the foundation was fraudulent? Yes, yes it was. Did it bother me very much? No, no it did not. Was she horrid and blackmailing him? Ohh, whoops, maybe I should stop my reasoning here and just say, I hated that Nick was ‘stuck’ and relished in his freedom and finally living and revealing his true self. Let me tell you a little bit more…
What's to like: Daniel and Nick have been best friends since college. They just…click. Nick hid his attraction to Daniel and continued on with the life he thought he was supposed to have. Sadly, this path did not lead to happiness. Granted it did give him two awesome kids and he wouldn’t trade them for anything. I suppose this is one of those ‘everything happens for a reason’ examples. Because without Marcia, he wouldn’t have Jenny and Sylvan. When Daniel’s father reaches the end of his battle with cancer he looks at his son and is struck with despair. He regrets the sacrifices he made in his life and can’t stand to see Daniel follow in his footsteps. His final wish is a wake-up call for Daniel. He wants him to have everything he surrendered in his race for success. I loved Frank. I loved how he never gave up. I loved how bold and blunt he was. We knew he was living his final days from the beginning but I still mourned his passing. He was the catalyst in Daniel’s awakening or enlightenment as it were. Which takes us to…
What's to love: Daniel is kinda like sandpaper. If you go against the grain, he will rub you the wrong way. But if you figure out his direction he will ease the path for you. I understood him and then, I enjoyed him. He’s a man of action, not a sayer but a doer. I loved that once he suddenly realized what he wanted, he went after it. I loved how his eyes were opened to not only how special Nick was to him but everything else he ‘could be’. I loved how he embraced the kids. I loved how he went full out to care for his father in his final days. I found it easy to…love him. Nick loved him from the beginning and then loved him in a different light for many years. When the opportunity to love him romantically flashed before his eyes, he almost couldn’t believe it. Easton presents a beautiful friends-to-lovers with a gang of real characters. It was clear her goal was for us to hate Marcia and it was ‘mostly’ successful. In the end, I was grateful that more than one happily-ever-afters were captured. An extra bonus was checking in on Jack and Tony. All in all, I had a wonderful time and can’t wait to tackle Michael’s precarious matching next!
Beware of: Awareness may strike at any time. Obstacles may prove to be problematic but not impossible. Kids are present and true to life. And the reminder that it’s never too late to claim your happiness.
This book is for: If you haven’t met Tony and Jack yet, I’d highly suggest that you do…and then join Daniel and his family for this whole nine yards of possibilities.
Book UNfunk
What's to like: Daniel and Nick have been best friends since college. They just…click. Nick hid his attraction to Daniel and continued on with the life he thought he was supposed to have. Sadly, this path did not lead to happiness. Granted it did give him two awesome kids and he wouldn’t trade them for anything. I suppose this is one of those ‘everything happens for a reason’ examples. Because without Marcia, he wouldn’t have Jenny and Sylvan. When Daniel’s father reaches the end of his battle with cancer he looks at his son and is struck with despair. He regrets the sacrifices he made in his life and can’t stand to see Daniel follow in his footsteps. His final wish is a wake-up call for Daniel. He wants him to have everything he surrendered in his race for success. I loved Frank. I loved how he never gave up. I loved how bold and blunt he was. We knew he was living his final days from the beginning but I still mourned his passing. He was the catalyst in Daniel’s awakening or enlightenment as it were. Which takes us to…
What's to love: Daniel is kinda like sandpaper. If you go against the grain, he will rub you the wrong way. But if you figure out his direction he will ease the path for you. I understood him and then, I enjoyed him. He’s a man of action, not a sayer but a doer. I loved that once he suddenly realized what he wanted, he went after it. I loved how his eyes were opened to not only how special Nick was to him but everything else he ‘could be’. I loved how he embraced the kids. I loved how he went full out to care for his father in his final days. I found it easy to…love him. Nick loved him from the beginning and then loved him in a different light for many years. When the opportunity to love him romantically flashed before his eyes, he almost couldn’t believe it. Easton presents a beautiful friends-to-lovers with a gang of real characters. It was clear her goal was for us to hate Marcia and it was ‘mostly’ successful. In the end, I was grateful that more than one happily-ever-afters were captured. An extra bonus was checking in on Jack and Tony. All in all, I had a wonderful time and can’t wait to tackle Michael’s precarious matching next!
Beware of: Awareness may strike at any time. Obstacles may prove to be problematic but not impossible. Kids are present and true to life. And the reminder that it’s never too late to claim your happiness.
This book is for: If you haven’t met Tony and Jack yet, I’d highly suggest that you do…and then join Daniel and his family for this whole nine yards of possibilities.
Book UNfunk
July 25, 2014
I loved the rest of the series but really struggled with this one. Having read Easton's own review I knew to;
1 - expect 'cheating' - which I don't like but it wasn't the cheating of itself that bothered me.
2 - expect a 'villainous female' - not how I read it, at one point I shed a tear for his wife.
So I'm not rating down because of those things. I'm rating down because I HATE the main character in RAGE inducing ways.
The writing is great, the feel of the book is that of a light romance starring quirky characters that flows well. Unfortunately if you actually look at the plot then the story becomes ugly and there was nothing that said to me these two men should be together; I didn't get the impression of a decade long friendship.
Also - lost a lot of respect for Jack of the first book, while Michael of the third book (so glad I read out of order) is the only shining light in this mess.
Then there are the kids. Super, funny, clever kids. They felt scripted and I was already groaning at being told repeatedly how super, funny, clever they were.
Further comments are spoilery and a bit ranty
1 - expect 'cheating' - which I don't like but it wasn't the cheating of itself that bothered me.
2 - expect a 'villainous female' - not how I read it, at one point I shed a tear for his wife.
So I'm not rating down because of those things. I'm rating down because I HATE the main character in RAGE inducing ways.
The writing is great, the feel of the book is that of a light romance starring quirky characters that flows well. Unfortunately if you actually look at the plot then the story becomes ugly and there was nothing that said to me these two men should be together; I didn't get the impression of a decade long friendship.
Also - lost a lot of respect for Jack of the first book, while Michael of the third book (so glad I read out of order) is the only shining light in this mess.
Then there are the kids. Super, funny, clever kids. They felt scripted and I was already groaning at being told repeatedly how super, funny, clever they were.
Further comments are spoilery and a bit ranty
January 15, 2015
3.5 STARS
Daniel is a successful, handsome business man. When his father who’s dying from cancer advises him not to waste his life living for his work only, Daniel starts to reevaluate his life. He has a revelation – he’s attracted to his best friend and business partner, Nick. However, he’s not so socked. He is calm deciding to find out if he’s gay or not, so he goes to a sex clinic.
Nick is married with two kids, but he’s very unhappy. He remained married with Marcia, his wife, only for them. Nick is bi, both Daniel and Marcia knows. He always liked Daniel more than a friend, but he wants to stay loyal because he respects Marcia. Daniel doesn’t know how Nick feels about him, but he wants to find out. Maybe he has a chance with him, right? When Daniel starts to hang out with Nick and his kids, Nick realizes that he still has a thing for his business partner. Nick struggles with his feelings. He wants to do the right thing, but the right thing for who?
The two men realize they both have feelings for each other, but everything goes down when Marcia finds out about their “thing”.
In some way I enjoyed this one more than the first book in the series. The main characters are likeable, but I can’t say I loved them. Both of them are developed enough here. Daniel was a little selfish in my opinion. He cared more about himself and his needs than Nick’s relationship with his family. At least at first. He was great with Nick and the two kids. I liked how supportive was.
Even if I felt for Nick, I found him a little coward. He was a big pussy and at times I wanted to smack him in the head. His relationship with his kids is really great. There’s no doubt he’s a great father.
As a supportive character, Marcia was great, even if she was a bitch most of the time. She was a redeemable character, but she was awful with everyone.
The chemistry between Daniel and Nick is fantastic and the sex scenes are pretty hot. The epilogue was sweet and fluffy and I’m glad everyone found peace after all.
Overall, a nice GFY story!
Daniel is a successful, handsome business man. When his father who’s dying from cancer advises him not to waste his life living for his work only, Daniel starts to reevaluate his life. He has a revelation – he’s attracted to his best friend and business partner, Nick. However, he’s not so socked. He is calm deciding to find out if he’s gay or not, so he goes to a sex clinic.
Nick is married with two kids, but he’s very unhappy. He remained married with Marcia, his wife, only for them. Nick is bi, both Daniel and Marcia knows. He always liked Daniel more than a friend, but he wants to stay loyal because he respects Marcia. Daniel doesn’t know how Nick feels about him, but he wants to find out. Maybe he has a chance with him, right? When Daniel starts to hang out with Nick and his kids, Nick realizes that he still has a thing for his business partner. Nick struggles with his feelings. He wants to do the right thing, but the right thing for who?
The two men realize they both have feelings for each other, but everything goes down when Marcia finds out about their “thing”.
In some way I enjoyed this one more than the first book in the series. The main characters are likeable, but I can’t say I loved them. Both of them are developed enough here. Daniel was a little selfish in my opinion. He cared more about himself and his needs than Nick’s relationship with his family. At least at first. He was great with Nick and the two kids. I liked how supportive was.
Even if I felt for Nick, I found him a little coward. He was a big pussy and at times I wanted to smack him in the head. His relationship with his kids is really great. There’s no doubt he’s a great father.
As a supportive character, Marcia was great, even if she was a bitch most of the time. She was a redeemable character, but she was awful with everyone.
The chemistry between Daniel and Nick is fantastic and the sex scenes are pretty hot. The epilogue was sweet and fluffy and I’m glad everyone found peace after all.
Overall, a nice GFY story!
Read
December 17, 2013Check out the DESKTOP post (images) for "The Enlightenment of Daniel"
http://elieaston.com/desktop-the-enli...
And a long excerpt: http://elieaston.com/books-by-eli-eas...
From the author:
Sometimes stories just get away from you. Characters and the plot insist on going their own way regardless of what you intended when you started writing them. "The Enlightenment of Daniel" was like that. I thought it was going to be a rom com like the first Sex in Seattle book, "The Trouble with Tony". But the situation was too important and it became more of a family drama.
This is my longest published m/m story to date at 53K words. It's also the most angsty. This story is in the category of books like "Nothingness Ever Happens" by Sue Brown or "Family Unit" by Z.A. Maxfield.
Dr. Jack Halloran, Tony DeMarco, and Michael Lamont from the first book in this series make an appearance, but this is Daniel and Nick's story and it can be read without reading book #1.
WARNING: If you don't like cheating (even when the marriage is in name only) you'll want to avoid this one.
WARNING: If you dislike female villains/antagonists in your m/m give this one a miss.
http://elieaston.com/desktop-the-enli...
And a long excerpt: http://elieaston.com/books-by-eli-eas...
From the author:
Sometimes stories just get away from you. Characters and the plot insist on going their own way regardless of what you intended when you started writing them. "The Enlightenment of Daniel" was like that. I thought it was going to be a rom com like the first Sex in Seattle book, "The Trouble with Tony". But the situation was too important and it became more of a family drama.
This is my longest published m/m story to date at 53K words. It's also the most angsty. This story is in the category of books like "Nothingness Ever Happens" by Sue Brown or "Family Unit" by Z.A. Maxfield.
Dr. Jack Halloran, Tony DeMarco, and Michael Lamont from the first book in this series make an appearance, but this is Daniel and Nick's story and it can be read without reading book #1.
WARNING: If you don't like cheating (even when the marriage is in name only) you'll want to avoid this one.
WARNING: If you dislike female villains/antagonists in your m/m give this one a miss.
December 17, 2013
4.25*
It's no secret that I really like Eli Easton's stories. She has a mix of humor and emotion that works well for me.
I liked The Trouble With Tony, the first book in this series and was excited to read the second book in the Sex in Seattle series, but it can easily be read as a standalone.
When I read the blurb I wasn't quite sure how this was going to play out. Is Daniel gay? Or is he gay for Nick? Nick is married and has children, how is that going to be reconciled without me wanting to stab someone with a spoon?
Rest assured, despite me being grumpy and wanting to put a hex on some of the characters a time or two, I was able to refrain from using my scary spoon. And I actually had a slightly sappy smile on my face by the end of this book.
Daniel is successful, he's goal driven and has very high expectations of himself. He never does anything half way, he does his homework and his research to make sure he gets what he wants. So when he finds himself suddenly sexually attracted to his best friend Nick, what does he do? He goes to a sex clinic to help him figure out how he feels and why. I loved this part of the book, Daniel is so unintentionally funny in his seriousness in finding out where these feelings are coming from.
“I wanted to latch onto his, you know, member, like a damn leech. That makes me gay, right?”
“Or vampiric”
Nick's marriage is broken, it's hard to like his wife Marcia throughout most of the book, although I did get glimpses of her problems that helped me keep my stabbing spoon in the drawer, but just barely.
But in typical Daniel fashion, he wants Nick and after hearing how sad his marriage actually is he starts his onslaught. His father's words have woken something in Daniel and he suddenly sees that there really is more to life than just work and success.
And actually I found him to be a pretty sweet guy, with a real soft center. His studying for the baseball game was so cute.
I loved watching him woo Nick and his kids and discovering more about himself in the process. I also really liked that although Marcia was awful the majority of the book, she was still a person, she was still a mother to her children and she was redeemable.
If you are really strict on the no cheating you might want to give it a pass, and although I do not like cheating, the way it's handled here was ok for me.
But, if you like best friends to lovers, second chances or actually in this case maybe it was a first chance at love, some pretty cool kids, a man discovering his sexuality and his priorities in life and an absolutely awesome happy sweet perfect sigh worthy epilogue for everyone, this might be the book for you. As Nick put it :
“You did that, Daniel. You broke us all apart and put us back together in a way that made everything fit. And I love you so much for it.”
And now I'm looking forward to Michael's story.
July 28, 2014
This book drove me crazy. I disliked all the characters at one point or another. Daniel was a selfish ass who decided that what he wanted was more important than anything else in the world. Nick was a hand-wringing weakling. Marcia was a bitch from hell.
The setup - Daniel realizes he's in love with his long-time business partner, Nick, who is married to a woman and has two children. Daniel decides to go after Nick in spite of this. Conveniently for Daniel, and the reader, Marcia is an awful person who uses emotional blackmail to rule over her marriage to Nick.
This was, I thought, a very well-written book. The characters were so well-drawn that they behaved like real people. I don't like real people; that's why I live in books.
I ended up rooting for everyone's happiness, even Marcia's, by the end. Great book that touched on lots of issues for me.
Thanks to Mish for convincing me to read it.
The setup - Daniel realizes he's in love with his long-time business partner, Nick, who is married to a woman and has two children. Daniel decides to go after Nick in spite of this. Conveniently for Daniel, and the reader, Marcia is an awful person who uses emotional blackmail to rule over her marriage to Nick.
This was, I thought, a very well-written book. The characters were so well-drawn that they behaved like real people. I don't like real people; that's why I live in books.
I ended up rooting for everyone's happiness, even Marcia's, by the end. Great book that touched on lots of issues for me.
Thanks to Mish for convincing me to read it.
March 5, 2020
***2.5 Stars***
This is definitely one of those times that I wish Goodreads had half stars.
This book sits firmly at a 2.5 for me. It was definitely a step above "ok" but I wouldn't 100% commit to saying I "liked" it.
Let me start with the positives.
The Humor - This has Eli Easton's stamp all over it.
The Kids - I'm a sucker for kids in books. When done correctly, they can add so much to a story. Whether it's emotion, a reality check or much needed comedic relief in a tense situation...I find that I'm a fan of their inclusion most times. And it was no different here. Jenny and Sylvan were adorable. Jenny was a relatable 13 year old girl trying to figure out her identity, whereas Sylvan was a rambunctious 8 year old that loved sports and humor and ice cream and just having fun. Every single one of their interactions with Daniel stole my heart.
Daniel's Father - I loved their second chance relationship. Iron Man was a straight forward and brash old coot on his deathbed who saw a lot of regret in his life. He didn't want Daniel to end up like him and he didn't sugarcoat this fact. A lot of reflection happens at the tale end of life, and seeing Daniel and his father make the effort to change the dynamic of their relationship was really heartwarming. It also helped that the old man was a hoot!
The Epilogue - It was sweet and a true HEA for all involved, which I loved.
Now for the negatives. I'm not really sure I liked any of the main characters in this book. I'm all for flawed characters, but crap, I didn't have much to work with here.
Daniel - He was pretty damn selfish and a little manipulative. I understood where he came from in not wanting to waste any more of his life feeling unsatisfied, but he didn't really think too much about consequences, or how his decisions would affect Nick's life.
Nick - He was a complete pushover. He was against confrontation and hurting his children, which I can understand, but you have to stand up for yourself....stand up for your kids. You can't hide away at your job because you don't want to deal with your home life. Take your balls out of your wife's purse, strap them on and open your mouth! I can't feel sympathy for your sad life if you're a willing participant.
Marcia - Oh man, talk about a chick with issues! She was cold and controlling and manipulative and a whole host of other nasty words, and she was in need of some serious therapy! Her mother has done a number on her. But again, instead of standing up for herself, she's perpetuating the cycle. She's taking everything out on her kids and husband.
The Romance - What romance? Nick and Daniel don't spend any of this book together as a couple or anything romantic....with the exception of one encounter. A handful of conversations (most of which weren't about "them") and a lot of internal dialogue does not a romance make.
So far this series has been middle of the road for me, but I'm really looking forward to The Mating of Michael. I'm really intrigued by the whole setup of Michael's job as a sexual surrogate and wondering how Eli Easton is going to make it work.
December 20, 2013
Bliss, bliss and more bliss! Its no secret I adore Eli Easton's books so its no surprise that Daniels story has got another 5 glowing stars from me.
Read from start to finish with not that many interruptions, I pretty much devoured it. I thought The Trouble With Tony was awesome but I thought The Enlightenment of Daniel was even more so.
Daniel and Nick are a wonderful couple and whatever you think of GFY books, I don't think you could fail to be charmed by the romance between them. Daniel suddenly has an epiphany about the feelings he has for his long standing friend and work colleague, which seems to just come out of the blue but is helped along by the fact that his workaholic father, Frank, is now dying from Cancer and has realised just how much of his own life he's wasted by focusing on his career and not his family. He urges Daniel to rethink his own life before its too late. Hence Daniels enlightenment.
I loved how once Daniel comes to terms with his possible ' gayness, ' ( after a few visits with Dr Jack Halloran, who we know and love from book one, at the sex clinic ) he goes all out to woo Nick, and so starts another fantastic story, filled with delicious sexual tension and sizzling chemistry. I have to say that the fleeting interlude he has with the gorgeous sex surrogate Michael, who is such a sweetie, has now got me chomping at the bit to get my hands on his story. Can't. Wait!
As for the fact that Nick is still married and has kids, I had no problem at all with how Eli worked all that into the story. Everything worked out perfectly without leaving any nasty tastes in the mouth. Marcia the wife is a nasty piece of work but she even managed to give her a sympathetic bent and by the end of the story you realise that there is one evil bitch in the story but its not the one you expect. The HEA is just lovely and pulled all the threads together, leaving me fulfilled and totally and utterly satisfied.
It was fun, humorous, sexy, sweet, hot, romantic and at times very tender and poignant. The children are precious and totally likeable without being precocious and add an extra depth to the book, Frank, Daniels father is a character you can't help but love even though his situation is very sad and okay, most of the woman are portrayed as the bad guys but as I said not all is as it seems and for this story to work as well as it does then I'm quite happy for that to be the case. I had the best time reading this one and my five stars reflect the pure pleasure that I always get from one of my most favourite m/m authors. I read to take myself out of the banality of Real Life and away from my own trials and tribulations, and its stories like this that do just that. Adoreable, engaging and just what I wanted. Loved it with a passion.
Read from start to finish with not that many interruptions, I pretty much devoured it. I thought The Trouble With Tony was awesome but I thought The Enlightenment of Daniel was even more so.
Daniel and Nick are a wonderful couple and whatever you think of GFY books, I don't think you could fail to be charmed by the romance between them. Daniel suddenly has an epiphany about the feelings he has for his long standing friend and work colleague, which seems to just come out of the blue but is helped along by the fact that his workaholic father, Frank, is now dying from Cancer and has realised just how much of his own life he's wasted by focusing on his career and not his family. He urges Daniel to rethink his own life before its too late. Hence Daniels enlightenment.
I loved how once Daniel comes to terms with his possible ' gayness, ' ( after a few visits with Dr Jack Halloran, who we know and love from book one, at the sex clinic ) he goes all out to woo Nick, and so starts another fantastic story, filled with delicious sexual tension and sizzling chemistry. I have to say that the fleeting interlude he has with the gorgeous sex surrogate Michael, who is such a sweetie, has now got me chomping at the bit to get my hands on his story. Can't. Wait!
As for the fact that Nick is still married and has kids, I had no problem at all with how Eli worked all that into the story. Everything worked out perfectly without leaving any nasty tastes in the mouth. Marcia the wife is a nasty piece of work but she even managed to give her a sympathetic bent and by the end of the story you realise that there is one evil bitch in the story but its not the one you expect. The HEA is just lovely and pulled all the threads together, leaving me fulfilled and totally and utterly satisfied.
It was fun, humorous, sexy, sweet, hot, romantic and at times very tender and poignant. The children are precious and totally likeable without being precocious and add an extra depth to the book, Frank, Daniels father is a character you can't help but love even though his situation is very sad and okay, most of the woman are portrayed as the bad guys but as I said not all is as it seems and for this story to work as well as it does then I'm quite happy for that to be the case. I had the best time reading this one and my five stars reflect the pure pleasure that I always get from one of my most favourite m/m authors. I read to take myself out of the banality of Real Life and away from my own trials and tribulations, and its stories like this that do just that. Adoreable, engaging and just what I wanted. Loved it with a passion.
August 27, 2020
3.75 stars
November 6, 2015
I really really loved it!
It started a tiny little bit slow, but it picked up quickly and I totally enjoyed it.
I was afraid I wouldn't like the characters, but I actually kinda loved them.
Daniel in particularly! I loved his determination and the support he offered Nick when he needed it.
Despite it being his game over the years, when it came to Nick, Daniel was selfless and understanding.
Nick, well, he needed to get a back bone, but... he was a100% dad, and I can't fault him for it.
Eli Easton did it again for me! I had this books on my kindle like, forever, but I only got to it after reading the third one. Go figure...!!! I loved the third one the best and this one comes in second.
It started a tiny little bit slow, but it picked up quickly and I totally enjoyed it.
I was afraid I wouldn't like the characters, but I actually kinda loved them.
Daniel in particularly! I loved his determination and the support he offered Nick when he needed it.
Despite it being his game over the years, when it came to Nick, Daniel was selfless and understanding.
Nick, well, he needed to get a back bone, but... he was a100% dad, and I can't fault him for it.
Eli Easton did it again for me! I had this books on my kindle like, forever, but I only got to it after reading the third one. Go figure...!!! I loved the third one the best and this one comes in second.
August 23, 2023
After reading book 3 of this series and halfway through book 4… books where Eli Easton is back to being awesome… I’m reminded how much I hated the main characters in this book and I’ve decided to lower my rating from 2.5 (rounded up) to a 2.
Ugh! Where to start?! Daniel was arrogant. Nick was spineless. I hated that Nick was married through 90% of the book even though the marriage was loveless, and ,for the last three years, sexless. Nick’s wife was evil and manipulative to the point of using the two children as weapons against Nick, yet I was still disgusted with the final outcome of the divorce and the things that were brought to light.
Above and beyond all that, there was no chemistry between Daniel and Nick for most of the story. The only thing that bumps this even up to 3 stars is the epilogue. The epilogue finally felt like an Eli Easton romance. All in all, I’m giving this 2.5 stars rounded up to 3. The first book in this series was fantastic and from the blurb I like the sounds of book 3… but this was mostly a miss. Definitely the Eli Easton book that I’m most disappointed in!
Ugh! Where to start?! Daniel was arrogant. Nick was spineless. I hated that Nick was married through 90% of the book even though the marriage was loveless, and ,for the last three years, sexless. Nick’s wife was evil and manipulative to the point of using the two children as weapons against Nick, yet I was still disgusted with the final outcome of the divorce and the things that were brought to light.
Above and beyond all that, there was no chemistry between Daniel and Nick for most of the story. The only thing that bumps this even up to 3 stars is the epilogue. The epilogue finally felt like an Eli Easton romance. All in all, I’m giving this 2.5 stars rounded up to 3. The first book in this series was fantastic and from the blurb I like the sounds of book 3… but this was mostly a miss. Definitely the Eli Easton book that I’m most disappointed in!
December 21, 2013
I like Daniel's style.
I like how he decided on a course of action and went for it. All systems go. There are parts of this story that had me wondering if I'd enjoy it, specifically a cheating angle and a vindictive wife. I won't say it has a different spin on it but I liked the spin that was there. A lot.
Nick and his family deserved everything that Daniel was able to give them and that includes Marcia, Nick's wife. Things worked out in a way that I loved. This was a fun read for me. I can't wait to see how Michael's story plays out in book 3 and I hope we see a one for Laurent.
I like how he decided on a course of action and went for it. All systems go. There are parts of this story that had me wondering if I'd enjoy it, specifically a cheating angle and a vindictive wife. I won't say it has a different spin on it but I liked the spin that was there. A lot.
Nick and his family deserved everything that Daniel was able to give them and that includes Marcia, Nick's wife. Things worked out in a way that I loved. This was a fun read for me. I can't wait to see how Michael's story plays out in book 3 and I hope we see a one for Laurent.
February 14, 2016
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars
I really liked the first part of the Sex in Seattle series and I was excited to read the second one. And it was another very good read; I just liked it slightely less than the first one.
While the tone of the first part was very light and funny during the whole time, The Enlightenment of Daniel is a bit different. Daniel and Nick are very successfull business partners since many years and while Nick is bisexual, Daniel never had an interesst in men. He suspected that his best friend Nick might have had a crush on him during their time as roommates in school, but he isn't completely sure. When his Dad is dying, Daniel suddenly realized that having success isn't the only important thing in life. He doesn't want to be lonely and when he hears that Nick is extremely unhappy in his marriage, he is about to experience feelings he never had so far.
I really liked the main characters, but Daniel might have been a little to confident in getting everything he wants. His passion and endurance were interessting character traits, but they were also a little annoying. I don't know if I could like Daniel in real life. Considering Nick, I also had my problems really falling in love with him. He is willing to sacrifice everything for his kids and he is never speaking up to his wife Marcia, even if he sees that his kids are suffering. It made me mad at him.
That's why I rated this book with 3.5 instead of 4 stars, but due to the great writing style and the catchy plot I rounded them up to 4 stars!. I'm really looking forward to read Michael's story.
I really liked the first part of the Sex in Seattle series and I was excited to read the second one. And it was another very good read; I just liked it slightely less than the first one.
While the tone of the first part was very light and funny during the whole time, The Enlightenment of Daniel is a bit different. Daniel and Nick are very successfull business partners since many years and while Nick is bisexual, Daniel never had an interesst in men. He suspected that his best friend Nick might have had a crush on him during their time as roommates in school, but he isn't completely sure. When his Dad is dying, Daniel suddenly realized that having success isn't the only important thing in life. He doesn't want to be lonely and when he hears that Nick is extremely unhappy in his marriage, he is about to experience feelings he never had so far.
I really liked the main characters, but Daniel might have been a little to confident in getting everything he wants. His passion and endurance were interessting character traits, but they were also a little annoying. I don't know if I could like Daniel in real life. Considering Nick, I also had my problems really falling in love with him. He is willing to sacrifice everything for his kids and he is never speaking up to his wife Marcia, even if he sees that his kids are suffering. It made me mad at him.
That's why I rated this book with 3.5 instead of 4 stars, but due to the great writing style and the catchy plot I rounded them up to 4 stars!. I'm really looking forward to read Michael's story.
June 14, 2017
I'll be the first to say that I typically avoid stories with cheating, but my OCD of reading a series in order and my like of Eli Easton, pushed me to read this.
Kudos to Daniel for discovering what he wants & feels and going at it with single minded determination. There was definitely no straying from his goal.
Nick at times was a sympathetic character, stuck and in stasis from life's choices. I wish he had had the strength to move on before Daniel made his intentions known. Again, my dislike for cheating rearing its head.
To me, this had the least UST and smex of Easton's works I've read. That being said, I still overall liked it if I don't dwell on it too much. And of course, things work out (maybe a bit too simplistically/easily), but this is fiction and I'm down with my need for happy endings being satisfied.
Kudos to Daniel for discovering what he wants & feels and going at it with single minded determination. There was definitely no straying from his goal.
Nick at times was a sympathetic character, stuck and in stasis from life's choices. I wish he had had the strength to move on before Daniel made his intentions known. Again, my dislike for cheating rearing its head.
To me, this had the least UST and smex of Easton's works I've read. That being said, I still overall liked it if I don't dwell on it too much. And of course, things work out (maybe a bit too simplistically/easily), but this is fiction and I'm down with my need for happy endings being satisfied.
April 20, 2015
All aboard the nope train to Nopeville.
See Meep's review.
See Meep's review.
February 18, 2015
Five stars may be a bit much, but I laughed so much while reading this one that I feel it deserves more than just my usual three star rating for a passable romance. Daniel's obsessive worrying that resulted in moments of abrupt epiphanies about himself and his sexuality were, in a word, hilarious. His conversations with Jack about whether or not he's gay had me chuckling, and his dawning moment with Michael actually had me putting the book down and covering my eyes while I laughed into my hand. If you read anything from Eli Easton, this one would be a good bet. The romance between Nick and Daniel is so unbelievably sweet, and I couldn't help but feel pangs in my stomach waiting for their HEA...even though, yeah, I knew it was coming.
June 6, 2020
*Happy Sigh*
When Eli Easton's work hits the spot, it really hits the spot.
Everyone, and I mean everyone goes through an emotional and personal evolution in The Enlightenment of Daniel . Which makes this story incredibly satisfying.
Yes, there is infidelity and the *evil* women. Those could have been deterrents but they weren't because Eli Easton handled those two elements beautifully.
The *evil* wife Marcia, could have easily been one dimensional but Easton gives us an insight into her and her building blocks. It made it easy for my emotions to go from utter distaste to understanding and sympathy.
The infidelity, well I won't lie, with the information on hand, I couldn't care less. Just like Nick, I put his marital status in the back of my mind and rooted for him and Daniel.
I really adored Daniel and the way his mind works. The way he handled his new found sexuality. The way he went full on corporate takeover on Nick in order to win his love and affection. I even love the fact that he has no remorse or guilt in his pursuit. *smh*
Nick is definitely the opposite of Daniel. The kind of man who doesn't rock the boat or truly stand up for himself. Not my personal favorite characterization but in this case it works. Nick and Daniel compliment one another.
Elements to this story:
Friend to lover
Sexual discovery
personal growth
sweet kids
mid level angst
Perfect ( cliche but who cares) HEA
I highly recommend reading the first book in the series because there are characters that make an appearance from Book 1 and it creates a stronger enjoyment of this particular installment.
5 Stars because I loved this and it made me smile. :)
When Eli Easton's work hits the spot, it really hits the spot.
Everyone, and I mean everyone goes through an emotional and personal evolution in The Enlightenment of Daniel . Which makes this story incredibly satisfying.
Yes, there is infidelity and the *evil* women. Those could have been deterrents but they weren't because Eli Easton handled those two elements beautifully.
The *evil* wife Marcia, could have easily been one dimensional but Easton gives us an insight into her and her building blocks. It made it easy for my emotions to go from utter distaste to understanding and sympathy.
The infidelity, well I won't lie, with the information on hand, I couldn't care less. Just like Nick, I put his marital status in the back of my mind and rooted for him and Daniel.
I really adored Daniel and the way his mind works. The way he handled his new found sexuality. The way he went full on corporate takeover on Nick in order to win his love and affection. I even love the fact that he has no remorse or guilt in his pursuit. *smh*
Nick is definitely the opposite of Daniel. The kind of man who doesn't rock the boat or truly stand up for himself. Not my personal favorite characterization but in this case it works. Nick and Daniel compliment one another.
Elements to this story:
Friend to lover
Sexual discovery
personal growth
sweet kids
mid level angst
Perfect ( cliche but who cares) HEA
I highly recommend reading the first book in the series because there are characters that make an appearance from Book 1 and it creates a stronger enjoyment of this particular installment.
5 Stars because I loved this and it made me smile. :)
December 31, 2013
I really enjoyed most of this book - I liked that the GFY aspect was more about Daniel going from too-busy-for-boring-sex to wow-I'm-gay, without a lot of hair-tearing and angst. It was handled lightly, with humor, and his reactions were pure fun. I also enjoyed the little glimpses of Dr. Jack, from the first book.
Nick is a bit passive at first, but I understood that. He's been trapped in a tough situation, pinned in place in an unhappy marriage by his love for his kids. At some point, it's understandable to shut down and take the path of least resistance. And Daniel's father was great, as the mover in making Daniel stop and take stock of his life. There was emotion between him and Daniel that felt real, not too deep or sentimental for their pasts together, but bittersweet.
The only thing that made me downcheck this at all was a personal quibble with a major plot point or two. But that's me being really picky. Catch me in a week without any crises in my own life, and I might have slid on past that. And while I appreciated the efforts to rehabilitate the wife, I didn't care for a brief moment in her POV - just a personal preference again.
The author's writing tone is once more great - funny and smooth and warm, with a hint of deeper emotion. The MCs were sweet and hot together, and the end was a very rounded HEA. I'll pick up book 3 whenever I see it.
Nick is a bit passive at first, but I understood that. He's been trapped in a tough situation, pinned in place in an unhappy marriage by his love for his kids. At some point, it's understandable to shut down and take the path of least resistance. And Daniel's father was great, as the mover in making Daniel stop and take stock of his life. There was emotion between him and Daniel that felt real, not too deep or sentimental for their pasts together, but bittersweet.
The only thing that made me downcheck this at all was a personal quibble with a major plot point or two. But that's me being really picky. Catch me in a week without any crises in my own life, and I might have slid on past that. And while I appreciated the efforts to rehabilitate the wife, I didn't care for a brief moment in her POV - just a personal preference again.
The author's writing tone is once more great - funny and smooth and warm, with a hint of deeper emotion. The MCs were sweet and hot together, and the end was a very rounded HEA. I'll pick up book 3 whenever I see it.
July 10, 2014
Loved it!
Daniel and Nick are perfect for each other! And how could you not love Sylvan?? I really enjoyed this one.
As a side note, I found out that Catherine has a unique talent with puppets and fisting. Who knew?
Daniel and Nick are perfect for each other! And how could you not love Sylvan?? I really enjoyed this one.
As a side note, I found out that Catherine has a unique talent with puppets and fisting. Who knew?
December 21, 2013
Shortish review. 4 stars from me. Liked this one, but missed the humour of the first book in the series, although this one definitely has it's moments.
I have to admit that I wasn't that keen on Daniel at the start, he was far too remote and selfish, and much more interested in his expensive car, suit, shoes and lifestyle.....to be aware of or even concerned with what was going on right under his nose a) with his father dying and b) with the marital problems his best friend and partner Nick was experiencing. When Daniel finally got with the programme and accepted the compelling evidence that he was actually gay, he certainly put his heart and soul into doing everything he could to convince Nick that he was there for him and his 2 kids Jenny and Sylvan, and honestly regretted the fact that he'd only gotten to know his father again much too late in the day. Of course there had to be a bitch in the story, and in this one we actually had two, Nick's wife Marcia and her nightmare of a mother Estelle. How this strange menage a trois was eventually sorted out to everyone's satisfaction is for you to discover.
Looking forward to book 3 which is hopefully Michael's story.
I have to admit that I wasn't that keen on Daniel at the start, he was far too remote and selfish, and much more interested in his expensive car, suit, shoes and lifestyle.....to be aware of or even concerned with what was going on right under his nose a) with his father dying and b) with the marital problems his best friend and partner Nick was experiencing. When Daniel finally got with the programme and accepted the compelling evidence that he was actually gay, he certainly put his heart and soul into doing everything he could to convince Nick that he was there for him and his 2 kids Jenny and Sylvan, and honestly regretted the fact that he'd only gotten to know his father again much too late in the day. Of course there had to be a bitch in the story, and in this one we actually had two, Nick's wife Marcia and her nightmare of a mother Estelle. How this strange menage a trois was eventually sorted out to everyone's satisfaction is for you to discover.
Looking forward to book 3 which is hopefully Michael's story.
June 14, 2020
4.5 stars. I never wanted this book to end. The amount of joy it brought me! It could have been angsty, with Nick being married, with Daniel’s father dying, but instead it was like a warm hug that tickles you into fits of laughter here and there. I laughed out loud, I smiled, I couldn’t wait to read the next page. And the next page. And the next page. Daniel was so awesome, I loved his intense way about everything. Nick was as sweet as can be. The kids were cute, the teenager reminded me so much of my own awkward teen daughter. But Frank? He had me dying laughing at over and over.
My only complaint? I wanted more sex!
My only complaint? I wanted more sex!
January 20, 2016
SUCH a saucy book! I like how Eli perfectly combines the lols, warm feels and melty hawt sex scenes into short novellas. At the end of every single book I've read of hers I just vibrate with happiness. They're like the sampler cookie boxes you get at Christmas; you get a little nibble of everything and it makes you feel all good inside.
The Enlightenment of Daniel is about two business partners, Daniel Derenzo and Nick Ross. Daniel is a workaholic, and Nick is in an unhappy marriage, and has two kids whom he loves and would do anything for. Frank, Daniel's father, is dying and reminds Daniel that life is short and he should pursue what makes him truly happy. With the help of some familiar faces at Expanded Horizons (yay for cameos!), Daniel realizes he is totally gay-for-Nick, but does Nick feel the same way? Will he put himself first or stay miserable for the sake of his children? OooooooOO *unnecessary ghost noise*
There are so many funnies in this book. The analogies made me snort out loud in public places:
"No, this was like: I'm on a familiar trail in the forest and I'm walking, I'm walking, maybe I have my earphones in, right? Then wham! The next thing I know a meteor has crashed in front of me and the forest is engulfed in flame."
Also, hilarious bouts of drama:
The thought of Marcia in Nick's bed was enough to make Daniel want to fling himself naked into a field of nettles to distract himself from the mental anguish.
Eli writes a great GFY/OFY story, with minor characters that you either wanna hug (Frank) or scratch their eyes out (Marcia), though in the end I'm always satisfied with whatever happens, which is why if I'm in a reading slump, I download me some Eli and get all up in the goodness. Those damn epilogues always make me feel cozy.
FOUR STARS.
The Enlightenment of Daniel is about two business partners, Daniel Derenzo and Nick Ross. Daniel is a workaholic, and Nick is in an unhappy marriage, and has two kids whom he loves and would do anything for. Frank, Daniel's father, is dying and reminds Daniel that life is short and he should pursue what makes him truly happy. With the help of some familiar faces at Expanded Horizons (yay for cameos!), Daniel realizes he is totally gay-for-Nick, but does Nick feel the same way? Will he put himself first or stay miserable for the sake of his children? OooooooOO *unnecessary ghost noise*
There are so many funnies in this book. The analogies made me snort out loud in public places:
"No, this was like: I'm on a familiar trail in the forest and I'm walking, I'm walking, maybe I have my earphones in, right? Then wham! The next thing I know a meteor has crashed in front of me and the forest is engulfed in flame."
Also, hilarious bouts of drama:
The thought of Marcia in Nick's bed was enough to make Daniel want to fling himself naked into a field of nettles to distract himself from the mental anguish.
Eli writes a great GFY/OFY story, with minor characters that you either wanna hug (Frank) or scratch their eyes out (Marcia), though in the end I'm always satisfied with whatever happens, which is why if I'm in a reading slump, I download me some Eli and get all up in the goodness. Those damn epilogues always make me feel cozy.
FOUR STARS.
July 15, 2014
Piper's Peeps group read
I enjoyed this one more than the first book. The tone was more serious, but still kept some humor. I loved Daniel and his attitude in this one. Daniel is successful and driven, just like his father. As his father is suffering with cancer, trying to put things in order, he pushes Daniel to change things and enjoy life before it is too late. When Daniel realizes what he has been missing out on, he does everything in his power to get it. It being Nick, his college roommate and now business partner. Nick knows what he has been missing, having had a crush on his straight friend and partner, but he is currently in a miserable marriage, going through the motions for the sake of his children and has become quite passive.
With some help from Dr. Jack and PI Tony from the first book, Daniel sets out to come to terms with his newly discovered sexuality, and win over the man he loves. Too bad Nick's wife Marcia isn't going to be easily dealt with.
I enjoyed the story, but would have liked to see a little bit of the aftermath of Nick and Daniel getting together, before the time jump to the epilogue. I loved seeing Daniel's relationship with his father and Nick's children, but I did not warm up to Marcia even after the explanations and thought she got off way too easily.
I enjoyed this one more than the first book. The tone was more serious, but still kept some humor. I loved Daniel and his attitude in this one. Daniel is successful and driven, just like his father. As his father is suffering with cancer, trying to put things in order, he pushes Daniel to change things and enjoy life before it is too late. When Daniel realizes what he has been missing out on, he does everything in his power to get it. It being Nick, his college roommate and now business partner. Nick knows what he has been missing, having had a crush on his straight friend and partner, but he is currently in a miserable marriage, going through the motions for the sake of his children and has become quite passive.
With some help from Dr. Jack and PI Tony from the first book, Daniel sets out to come to terms with his newly discovered sexuality, and win over the man he loves. Too bad Nick's wife Marcia isn't going to be easily dealt with.
I enjoyed the story, but would have liked to see a little bit of the aftermath of Nick and Daniel getting together, before the time jump to the epilogue. I loved seeing Daniel's relationship with his father and Nick's children, but I did not warm up to Marcia even after the explanations and thought she got off way too easily.
December 30, 2013
3.0 Stars
On 12/24/13, DaisyGirl wrote: I want to, need to, have to read this NOW! But, but I must get through my December Scavenger Hunt list. Gaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!
Okay, so I lasted all of 3 days before I threw in the towel and picked this one up despite my never-ending December Scavenger Hunt List. I couldn't resist the temptation any longer. Am I happy I did? Yeeeah ... sorta.
So I wasn't enamored with Nick. He's kind of a doofus; kind of spineless; kind of blah. I didn't dislike him; I just wished I liked him more than I did. (.) I think the problem was that most of the book was about Daniel's self-realization and Daniel's beef with Marcia, than about Nick and Daniel. It was obvious that Nick loved his kids. It was also obvious that Daniel loved Nick. I just didn't get that Nick loved Daniel. On the plus side: I loved the family dynamic (Nick's kids and Daniel's father).
Bottom line: Wish I liked Nick more.
On 12/24/13, DaisyGirl wrote: I want to, need to, have to read this NOW! But, but I must get through my December Scavenger Hunt list. Gaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!
Okay, so I lasted all of 3 days before I threw in the towel and picked this one up despite my never-ending December Scavenger Hunt List. I couldn't resist the temptation any longer. Am I happy I did? Yeeeah ... sorta.
So I wasn't enamored with Nick. He's kind of a doofus; kind of spineless; kind of blah. I didn't dislike him; I just wished I liked him more than I did. (.) I think the problem was that most of the book was about Daniel's self-realization and Daniel's beef with Marcia, than about Nick and Daniel. It was obvious that Nick loved his kids. It was also obvious that Daniel loved Nick. I just didn't get that Nick loved Daniel. On the plus side: I loved the family dynamic (Nick's kids and Daniel's father).
Bottom line: Wish I liked Nick more.
September 26, 2025
Nick Ross was in love with Daniel years ago, when they were roommates in college. But Daniel was straight, and Nick patched his broken heart by marrying Marcia. Two kids and fourteen years later, they go through the motions of their marriage like two ships passing in the night. However, Nick’s kids mean the world to him, and he’s afraid he’ll never get joint custody if they divorced. If he can trust his heart to an awakening Daniel, they all might find their way to a happily ever after.
Focusing on building a successful career has made Daniel Derenzo and his business partner and friend, Nick Ross, wealthy men. But Daniel’s father, Frank, is calling Daniel’s insatiable drive for profit into question. Frank sees his son repeating the same mistakes that he made and now Frank’s been diagnosed with late-stage cancer. Frank realizes that he has never really been happy, but he wants to make sure that Daniel is.
Daniel never expected that search for happiness to become more than mere friendship with his best friend, Nick. Daniel has never been attracted to men before and Nick is married with two kids. After some deep thinking, Daniel not only accepts his sexual orientation, is ready to engage in a plan to make Nick, his married best friend, not only his partner in work, but also in life. The plan was easier than he thought it would be because Nick also had a crush on Daniel.
This story is the 2nd book in the "Sex in Seattle" series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. There are some "well-known" topics found in most of this genus: "instant or requited love", "falling for your best friend", and at least one if not both, "wealthy", or "financially comfortable", main characters. I, at first thought that Daniel’s sudden realization that he is deeply and romantically interested in Nick, was a bit too quick, but later I realized he wasn't capable of being everything to Nick, because he didn't really know what "everything" was.
I was also surprised how much sympathy I had for Nick’s wife. She was a genuinely lovely person and not at all an impossible obstacle for Daniel. Nick is also clearly unwilling to make any moves that he considers to be cruel to her. She did once threaten to take the kids away if Nick didn't cut his ties with Daniel...but they worked that one out.
Daniel fully understands Nick's home life dynamic, and had, from the start tried to build a solid foundation with Nick and with Nick’s kids, but even he realizes all his efforts may not work. Nick and Daniel are both baffled by their intense feelings, and also by the unfortunate, but the "in-their face" reality that Nick IS married and his wife DOESN'T appear to be likely to grant him a divorce. This dynamic played out well without resorting to wild histrionics. It made the characters more realistic, and more relatable.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a story that includes themes of unrequited love, impossible situations, and discovering sexuality. I usually don’t care for stories that involve children, but here Eli Easton treats Nick’s kids like important parts of the story instead of just "sidekicks" or "fill-ins". I thought they further added to and helped Daniel prove that he was accepting of "all of Nick", his kids included. I liked the idea of the story, but it became really nerve-wracking to keep being put on the cusp and waiting to see if Daniel and Nick were going to fall apart. I realize that without all the family drama there wouldn't have ever been a story...still i really like this author and the story was 4.5★'s worthy.
Focusing on building a successful career has made Daniel Derenzo and his business partner and friend, Nick Ross, wealthy men. But Daniel’s father, Frank, is calling Daniel’s insatiable drive for profit into question. Frank sees his son repeating the same mistakes that he made and now Frank’s been diagnosed with late-stage cancer. Frank realizes that he has never really been happy, but he wants to make sure that Daniel is.
Daniel never expected that search for happiness to become more than mere friendship with his best friend, Nick. Daniel has never been attracted to men before and Nick is married with two kids. After some deep thinking, Daniel not only accepts his sexual orientation, is ready to engage in a plan to make Nick, his married best friend, not only his partner in work, but also in life. The plan was easier than he thought it would be because Nick also had a crush on Daniel.
This story is the 2nd book in the "Sex in Seattle" series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. There are some "well-known" topics found in most of this genus: "instant or requited love", "falling for your best friend", and at least one if not both, "wealthy", or "financially comfortable", main characters. I, at first thought that Daniel’s sudden realization that he is deeply and romantically interested in Nick, was a bit too quick, but later I realized he wasn't capable of being everything to Nick, because he didn't really know what "everything" was.
I was also surprised how much sympathy I had for Nick’s wife. She was a genuinely lovely person and not at all an impossible obstacle for Daniel. Nick is also clearly unwilling to make any moves that he considers to be cruel to her. She did once threaten to take the kids away if Nick didn't cut his ties with Daniel...but they worked that one out.
Daniel fully understands Nick's home life dynamic, and had, from the start tried to build a solid foundation with Nick and with Nick’s kids, but even he realizes all his efforts may not work. Nick and Daniel are both baffled by their intense feelings, and also by the unfortunate, but the "in-their face" reality that Nick IS married and his wife DOESN'T appear to be likely to grant him a divorce. This dynamic played out well without resorting to wild histrionics. It made the characters more realistic, and more relatable.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a story that includes themes of unrequited love, impossible situations, and discovering sexuality. I usually don’t care for stories that involve children, but here Eli Easton treats Nick’s kids like important parts of the story instead of just "sidekicks" or "fill-ins". I thought they further added to and helped Daniel prove that he was accepting of "all of Nick", his kids included. I liked the idea of the story, but it became really nerve-wracking to keep being put on the cusp and waiting to see if Daniel and Nick were going to fall apart. I realize that without all the family drama there wouldn't have ever been a story...still i really like this author and the story was 4.5★'s worthy.
March 14, 2014
3.5
This is the second installment in the Sex in Seattle series, but it's a little bit different than the first one. While The Trouble With Tony is pretty hilarious at times, The Enlightenment of Daniel has a much more serious note. Eli Easton writes in her own comment that this book is an example of a plot going its own way, becoming different than it was intended at first, and I think you can feel that while reading - the beginning is all light-hearted and funny, very similar to The Trouble With Tony and it's only a little later that there's more serious business involved.
I like Eli Easton's writing style, so that was definitely on the plus side for me, and I still absolutely love the general idea of the sex clinic as the common denominator in this series. The kids were pretty cool, and Daniel and Nick generally also guys I could cheer for. And the humour, whenever it shines through, is still awesome!
My main issue is that several things were a little bit too much for me. Daniel's conversion is a little bit too fast and too all-encompassing. Nick is a little bit too much of a push-over . The resolution of the main problem is little bit too easy. During the main plot, Marcia is a little bit too evil (now, don't get me wrong, she isn't the total villain black-and-white-style, it's explained why she is how she is, but it's still a little bit too over-the-top). She's supposed to be a great mother, yet she cannot see what she puts her own kids through by being how she is and doing what she does? And don't get me started on Marcia's mother ;-D Finally, while the ending is generally very satisfying, it was a little bit too saccharine sweet for me as well.
There were also many different POVs here which tripped me up sometimes.
I think all these "too much"es wouldn't have bothered me in a predominantly humorous plot like The Trouble With Tony. But if you get more serious in a story, these things change from funny to "are you serious?!" very quickly - and I guess that's what happened to me sometimes while reading.
On the plus side again: the cheating issue that Eli Easton warns about wasn't an issue at all for me! Actually, if Nick had had more qualms about it given the circumstances, I might have throttled him myself, because for me what was going on had really nothing to do with cheating. I admit that I have definitely fewer problems with cheating plots than other people, but seriously, if that is your biggest worry about this story then don't let that stop you from reading the book!
All in all, an entertaining book, but it didn't reach the heights of the first installment for me. I'm definitely looking out for the next one in the series, though! (There is going to be a next one, right? Right? :-D)
This is the second installment in the Sex in Seattle series, but it's a little bit different than the first one. While The Trouble With Tony is pretty hilarious at times, The Enlightenment of Daniel has a much more serious note. Eli Easton writes in her own comment that this book is an example of a plot going its own way, becoming different than it was intended at first, and I think you can feel that while reading - the beginning is all light-hearted and funny, very similar to The Trouble With Tony and it's only a little later that there's more serious business involved.
I like Eli Easton's writing style, so that was definitely on the plus side for me, and I still absolutely love the general idea of the sex clinic as the common denominator in this series. The kids were pretty cool, and Daniel and Nick generally also guys I could cheer for. And the humour, whenever it shines through, is still awesome!
My main issue is that several things were a little bit too much for me. Daniel's conversion is a little bit too fast and too all-encompassing. Nick is a little bit too much of a push-over . The resolution of the main problem is little bit too easy. During the main plot, Marcia is a little bit too evil (now, don't get me wrong, she isn't the total villain black-and-white-style, it's explained why she is how she is, but it's still a little bit too over-the-top). She's supposed to be a great mother, yet she cannot see what she puts her own kids through by being how she is and doing what she does? And don't get me started on Marcia's mother ;-D Finally, while the ending is generally very satisfying, it was a little bit too saccharine sweet for me as well.
There were also many different POVs here which tripped me up sometimes.
I think all these "too much"es wouldn't have bothered me in a predominantly humorous plot like The Trouble With Tony. But if you get more serious in a story, these things change from funny to "are you serious?!" very quickly - and I guess that's what happened to me sometimes while reading.
On the plus side again: the cheating issue that Eli Easton warns about wasn't an issue at all for me! Actually, if Nick had had more qualms about it given the circumstances, I might have throttled him myself, because for me what was going on had really nothing to do with cheating. I admit that I have definitely fewer problems with cheating plots than other people, but seriously, if that is your biggest worry about this story then don't let that stop you from reading the book!
All in all, an entertaining book, but it didn't reach the heights of the first installment for me. I'm definitely looking out for the next one in the series, though! (There is going to be a next one, right? Right? :-D)
December 28, 2013
Loved the beginning of this one. The startling epiphany Daniel faces is hysterical and the way he chases things down are funny if exhausting. So, I was roaring through the story and then bits just started to bog it down, which to be fair made it realistic, but then I hit potholes. There are a slew of characters in this story and it's like ALL of them need to be sorted out before it ends, except for the one sacrificial character. Went from a tight narrow story to something that felt like kumbaya. Or perhaps even more disturbing, from Stepford Wives to Father Knows Best.
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July 7, 2016***narration review only***
This was an enjoyable narration. There were a couple of instances of mispronounced words, but nothing so awful to make me quit. The quirky funny bits were able to come through. I truly enjoyed this and would not say no to listening to something by this narrator.
This was an enjoyable narration. There were a couple of instances of mispronounced words, but nothing so awful to make me quit. The quirky funny bits were able to come through. I truly enjoyed this and would not say no to listening to something by this narrator.
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